Responsibility and Presence in Early Modern and Contemporary Societies. On the Limits of Property and Membership

In this collaborative work between historians and a sociologist, the authors examine the limitations of the concept of property in defining human-object relationships. Drawing on research in early modern Italy, the Spanish Empire and contemporary Argentina and France, they demonstrate that actions performed on objects can establish legitimate rights and privileges without the need for formal title deeds. The aim is not to compare disparate countries or time periods, but rather to analyse these actions in order to understand their effectiveness and implications across various contexts. This examination seeks to illuminate the intricate dynamics between individuals and objects, challenging the traditional paradigm of private property that often obscures such complexities.